Peroxisomes

Peroxisomes were formally identified and named as a distinct kind of organelle by Christian de Duve, the same scientist who discovered lysosomes, in 1967. Structurally they are simple: small, spherical bodies enclosed by a single surrounding membrane. Functionally, peroxisomes play an important part in photorespiration, and their enzyme content is closely tied to glycolate metabolism. In plants, leaf cells in particular tend to contain large numbers of peroxisomes, reflecting their close functional link to photosynthesis-related metabolism. Beyond plants, peroxisomes are also a normal feature of animal cells, being especially common …